Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons is the perfect chilled salad to feed a crowd. Easy to make and full a flavor, this Mediterranean inspired dish will please any seafood lover!
Surprise!
It’s a Virtual Baby Shower for my friend Liz from The Lemon Bowl! You may already follow Liz’s blog or have heard me mention her a couple of times. Liz and I are kindred food spirits who not only have a deep love for all things Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern but seem to want to eat every single thing the other posts.
It goes without being said that Liz’s Virtual Baby Shower was going to revolve around lemons. I chose the salad course and decided to recreate a dish I shared with my husband at a restaurant over the summer – Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons.
This is not complicated but looks fancy. It feeds a crowd and is served cold – which is always important when you are entertaining.
Be sure to check out all of the Lemon-themed dishes that these other fabulous bloggers made in honor of Liz!
NOTES:
- I used this brand of Preserved Lemon. Prices really vary from store to store. Your best bet is usually at a Middle Eastern Market or maybe online. I found them to be very expensive at Whole Foods.
- My local Whole Foods Market has this brand of sustainably harvested Calamari in the freezer section. They are already 100% cleaned and trimmed and less then $12 for 2 1/2 pounds! Another great option is usually your local fish store – just make sure to ask for the already cleaned and cut calamari!
- If you want to make preserved lemons yourself (it’s not hard you just need to plan in advance!), here are some good tutorials.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 to 3 medium cloves garlic smashed and minced
- 2 1/2 pounds cleaned and trimmed uncooked calamari rings and tentacles defrosted
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- juice of 1 large lemon
- 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
- peel of 1 preserved lemon thinly sliced
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Begin by defrosting the calamari (if purchased frozen). Place in a strainer and run under cold water for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing a couple of times, until soft and pliable. Drain water, pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
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Use a paring knife to remove just the rind from the preserved lemon. Discard the inside and thinly slice the rind.
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Smash garlic and mince. Finely chop cleaned mint, cilantro and parsley.
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Heat a very large skillet or frying pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Heat oil and add garlic.
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Sauté, stirring constantly, for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant and add in defrosted and well-drained calamari (If your pan isn't large enough to accommodate all the calamari in one layer, divide the 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and cook the calamari in batches. You do not want them to steam, you want them to sear and for that, they must cook in a single layer with some room around them). Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper and continue cooking for 2 to 4 minutes or until opaque and just firm. You do not want to overcook the calamari or it be have a rubbery texture.
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Drain off any liquid that is released during cooking and remove cooked calamari to a mixing bowl.
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Add remaining 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, preserved lemon rind and herbs to mixing bowl and toss well while calamari still warm.
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Adjust seasoning if necessary, cover and chill until ready to serve. This is nice served over some spring greens or other delicate lettuce with some ripe cucumbers or grape tomatoes. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
I have never prepared calamari at home before, but this makes it look so easy!!
Well buying the trimmed and cleaned product does make it easy! Cleaning calamari isn’t really that difficult, just REALLY time consuming!
Having access to cleaned and trimmed calmari is a blessing! I’ve cleaned it, and although it’s not hard, it is kinda messy. Anyway, this looks like such a terrific salad – great job!
An interesting salad. Never cooked calamari at home, I don’t know why.
Looks very good, my hubby would love to have a plateful of that.
You must change that – calamari is really easy to work with!
Ooh! You’re right. It does indeed look fancy! And very pretty. 🙂
Thanks Erin! 🙂
This beautiful salad is such a fun addition to a baby shower! I love the use of preserved lemon here!
I love all the herbs in your salad!
Alyssa,
What a terrific salad for Liz, and for all of us. It looks wonderful–nice photos, too!
I love calamari and this salad is stunning!
WOW! This looks incredible! Thanks for participating!
Thanks Sheila – you guys did a great job 🙂
Love calamari!! I wish I had a big bowl of this right now!!
Fabulous salad and so appropriate for Liz’s baby shower, adding that to the impressive list of Lemon-themed dishes other fabulous bloggers made in honor of Liz this is quite a party.
Love the seafood addition to LIz’s shower! Thank you!
I am seriously drooling over this – I LOVE calamari, it is probably one of my favorite foods!!!! And you’re right, I want everything you post!!!! So glad to have you as a friend. I hope our paths cross in 2014!!! xoxox
I’ve never tried making calamari at home! What a great addition to a Salad!
If you can find them cleaned and trimmed, it’s SUPER easy Megan!
Calamari salad is such a fun and unexpected dish to make for a bridal shower! Very inventive.
How decadent! Lovely!
Thanks Amanda! 🙂
How did you know I’ve been craving calamari all week?! This looks amazing!!!
Funny Ashley! I have been thinking of buying another bag and making a “paleo” crumb to fry them with. ;p
What a gorgeous recipe!
What a stunning dish! So perfect for Liz’s Shower!
Yum! I’ve never seen preserved lemons before. I bet the flavors are amazing in this dish, Alyssa! It was a pleasure bringing goodies to the baby shower with you!